Author Pemi Aguda's latest novel, 'One Leg on Earth', offers a compelling and unsettling portrait of Lagos, exploring themes of sisterhood through a lens of eco-horror and cosmic distress. The narrative centres on a young pregnant woman who finds herself assailed by dark, unsettling visions, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.
The novel is noted for its exploration of the 'monstrous feminine', a concept woven into a narrative that defies simple categorisation. It is neither strictly realistic nor wholly supernatural, instead occupying a space where ordinary events are imbued with sinister possibilities.
This approach is consistent with Aguda's previous work, particularly her debut collection, 'Ghostroots'. That collection, which was a finalist for the 2024 US National Book Award, was praised for its riveting ability to fuse realism with elements of horror, demonstrating that the two forms are not mutually exclusive.
'One Leg on Earth' continues this stylistic trend, utilising a sophisticated narrative structure to delve into complex psychological and environmental themes. The setting of Lagos provides a vibrant yet unsettling backdrop for the protagonist's journey into her own psyche and the broader societal anxieties she encounters.